Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference

nsf-logo[1]

Organic Contaminants and Their Effects on Estrogen Receptor Beta Gene Expression in the Human Neuroblastoma Cell Line, SH-SY5Y

Undergraduate #174
Discipline: Chemistry and Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: Pollution/Toxic Substances/Waste

Damian Canady - North Carolina Central University
Co-Author(s): Tonya Gerald Goins, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC


Water is an essential part of life and it is vital that people know what is in the drinking water and how it affects the body. Organic contaminants (OCs) are found in various water supplies throughout the United States such as our drinking water and local surface water. Monitoring OC concentration levels in water supplies in the United States is very necessary. OCs are suspected to disrupt normal biological functions by acting like the steroid hormone, 17-estradiol (endocrine disruption), which regulates the expression several estrogen-responsive genes, including a target receptor, estrogen receptor beta (ER. The steroid hormone, 17-estradiol is known to regulate the gene expression of ER in a brain-region specific manner. Previous qualitative analysis results of various water samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) suggest OCs are present in the various water supply samples tested. The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of isolated OCs on ER mRNA levels of expression. Extracted OCs from various water samples were used to treat the human neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y. Using real-time PCR, we analyzed the effects of OCs on the mRNA levels of the estrogen receptor sub-type, estrogen receptor beta ER. Preliminary dose response results suggest OCs repress the mRNA levels of ER in the picomole range when compared to the 17 estradiol control. Further investigation is required to determine how the OC effects are mediated. This research is supported in part by NSF and QEM/HBCU-Faculty PDM Program (556057).

Funder Acknowledgement(s): National Science Foundation (NSF), QEM/HBCU-Faculty, LS-AMP

Faculty Advisor: Tonya Goins,

nsf-logo[1]

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.